Game apparatus



DecQZB, 1937. Q Q LUTES ZJQEAZ GAME APPARATUS Filed July 16, 195a Patented Dec. 28, 1937 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME APPARATUS Cecil C. Lutes, Bellingham, Wash. Application July 16, 1936, Serial No. 91,014

4 Claims.

p ,This invention relates to a game apparatus, and has for one of its objects the production of a and which will remain in a set chored in position.

. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the playing field;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one of the arches or wickets;

Figure 3is an enlarged perspective View of the double goal; a

Figure l is an edge elevation of the double goal in a folded position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged-fragmentary side ele vation of-the double goal;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of a single goal;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form. of single goal.

By-referring to, the drawing, it Will be seen thatG designates the goal which is specially constructed as. will be hereinafter described, and this goal is preferably placed in the center of thecourt, which court may be variedin size and shape to fit the space available. The court is usually laid out in a square or diamond shape to feet to the side, thereby providing four distinct corners. At'each of the corners facingthe openings in the goal G, isplaced an arch or wicket W, and at the other corners are placed posts P. Lines are preferably marked in any suitable or desired manner such as by tape or chalk lines to indicate the-bounds of the field and to allow the players to easily determine the plays which are out of bounds. '1 preferably employ several groups of balls, one group being placed near each arch or wicket W, eachgroup of balls-being distinctlyzcolored or marked to allow the different groups to be distinguished, and

. each group preferably consisting of balls-indicated" as at B. These groupsmay besix, eight, or four, as may be desired, and theballs are preferablyreferred to as treys. An X-ball indicated by the letter X, preferably solid White, is also employed.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably employ a double goal indicated by the letter G, 5 which double goal is illustrated in detail in Figure 3 and comprises a back or base section Ill. The back or base section ill carries at each end a hinge section l l which extends transversely across the end of the base or back section as 0 clearly shown in Figure 3, the hinge section II carryingat its respective ends rolled portions l2. These rolled portions are offset or spaced from the sides of the base section ill for the purpose hereinafter described. The double goal also 15 comprises a plmality of side sections l3, each side section carrying a hinge section M having rolled portions i5 and anchoring. and pintle pins iii are extended through the rolledportions l2 and I5, and are driven into the ground to constitute an 20 eflicient anchoring means for securely anchoring the back or base section It) against accidental displacement from its selected position. Each side section is is provided at its outer end with a substantially U-shaped strap l'l having its outer end slightly spaced from the outer endof the side section l3 to provide a vertically extending chan: nel for receiving the anchoring pins l8, which pins l8 pass between the straps l! and the ends of the side sections l3 and into the ground for firmly anchoring the side sections in a desired position.

As shown in Figure 3, .four of these side sections 13 are employed, which are hingedly connected upon opposite sides to the ends of the back or base section l6, the outer ends of the side sections being free to swing toward or away from each other thereby permitting the sidesections to be properly adjusted to the desired angle when thepins l8 may be. driven in position to firmly anchor the outer ends of the side sections 13 in a properly set angular position, the outer ends of the sidesections l3 being properly spaced to allow the entrance of the balls X and B. As shown in Figure 4, the hinge sections 11 are ofiset sufficiently to allow the side sections l3 to fold flat and overlap in the manner as shown, thereby permitting the double goal to be conveniently packed and stored to be accommodated in a minimum amount. of space. The hinge sections l lat the opposite ends of the back or base section H] are offset in opposite directions with re spect to the ends of the base sections lll'sufiiciently to accommodate the thickness of one of the side sections l3 when it lies fiat upon the base section it], as shown in Figure 4, thereby allowing the adjacent overlapping side section I3 to lie in a fiat position, as indicated. The hinge sections H and i4 and also the straps ll may preferably be formed of metal, or other suitable material, and the straps Il preferably overlap the outer ends of the side sections l3 because of their U-shaped structure. The pins l6 and I8 are preferably provided with enlarged heads, as indicated in Figure 5, to overhang the rolled portions l5 of the hinge sections l4 and also the upper edges of the straps ll, in this way providing an efiicient anchoring means.

In Figure 6, I have shown a modified form. of the invention consisting of a back section 20 and a pair of side sections 2| which are hingedly connected to the back section 28 through the medium of a hinge connection 22, the hinge connection 22 having headed pintle pins 23 which connect the back and side sections together and also extend into the ground to provide an anchoring means. The outer end of each side section 2i is provided with a substantially U-shaped strap 24 having its folded portion slightly spaced from the end of the side section 2| which supports the same, for the purpose of receiving an anchoring pin 25 similar to the anchoring pins l8 previously mentioned, whereby the outer ends of the side sections 2i may be firmly anchored in a proper and desired angular position.

In Figure 7, there is shown a modified form of the invention wherein a back section 26 is illustrated having fixed converging side sections 21 which are spaced at their outer ends to provide a ball-entrance opening 28. This goal, which is clearly illustrated in detail in Figure 7, is of a solid or rigid type wherein the side sections 21 are stationary with respect to the base section or back section 26, and this goal, as shown in Figure '7, is preferably formed of heavy material sufIicient to normally remain in a set position when once placed upon the ground or playing field.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in mechanical construction may be em.- ployed without departing from the spirit of the invention so long as these changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In playing the game two, four, or six players may engage, and in fact any number from two players up may engage in the play. When single goals, such as illustrated in Figure 6, are used, they are placed back to back in the center of the court in the same position as that indicated by the letter G in Figure 1, wherein the double goal is illustrated. The openings in the goal are usually spaced at slightly more than the diameter of two of the balls, or about seven inches and the goals may be colored or marked distinctly to match the colors or markings on the balls. The team balls which are preferably called treys, are usually marked by single colored stripes on one group, and double stripes or solid color may be used on the other group. As stated above, the X-ball is usually solid white. The object of the game is to accumulate the highest score, and the players proceed as follows:

The first player places the X-ball down behind his teams arch at one end, such as is shown to the left of Figure 1, and starts the game by driving the X-ball through the arch and into the court. The player will usually try to direct the X-ball past his teams goal, and as much in front of the opponents goal as possible. The first player of the opposing team will put down one of his teams treys, a mallets head diameter behind his teams arch and drive the ball, trying either to knock the X-ball back towards the opponents goal or to place the treys in position from which a later shot at the X-ball may be made. The second player on the first team will follow by driving in one of his teams treys in like manner. The following players may drive in other treys or play those belonging to their teams already in play as circumstances and their game sense may indicate. Turns at play are alternated between the teams so one team may have more players without creating an advantage.

Rules of pZay.A player may not use his mallet on any of the opposing teams treys, nor upon the X-ball, except when putting the X-ball in play. A player may not move any ball, goal, arch, or post, as a preliminary to making a shot nor to give advantage or disadvantage to either side. A trey driven out of bounds as a result of an opponents shot is out of play and may only be returned to the court by driving it in through the owning teams arch on their turn of play. A trey driven out of bounds as a result of a shot by the team to which it belongs, may be played from where it comes to rest, or called out of play at the owning teams option. When a ball goes into a goal, it is out of play and is removed from the goal and returned to starting position. When the X-ball is goaled, it must be returned to play in the same manner as originally described, by the next player on the next play, or it will go to opponents for an out-of-bounds shot for a minor score on the following play. Intentional violation of the rules forfeits the game to the opponents, and unintentional violation is penalized by loss of a play by the offending team. Shooting on the opponents turn of play, is further penalized by voiding any score made on the illegal play and putting the trey used out of play.

Scores are made by knocking the X-ball into opponents goal, by driving one of the playing teams treys against it with a mallet, and this counts a major score of ten points. If during a teams turn, the Y-ball is knocked or driven out of bounds, the next player on the other team may put it in play by driving in through opponents arch. If the player drives the ball into opponents goal on this play it counts a minor score of two points. Should the team entitled to the penalty shot on the Xball decline it in favor of some other play, then the opponents may put it in play by driving the ball through his own arch. If a player can knock the opponents trey into any goal by driving one of his own teams treys against it, a trey score of three points results. Sometimes, to prevent opponents from making a major score, it will be found to be good strategy for a player to knock the X-ball into his teams goal by driving his trey against it, this being called a sacrifice and counts three points for the opponent. Other penalty scores of one point for opponents result when the player drives the X-ball into his own goal when putting the X-ball into play, or when he drives or knocks one of his teams treys into either goal. A ball is not considered in a goal unless every part of it is beyond the goal opening, or the ball is completely within the outer ends of the opening. A total score of fifteen points constitutes a game.

It should be understood that the rules for playing the game may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention and the above 75 outline is included to describe a typical manner of using the present game apparatus.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a goal comprising a straight back section, a pair of side sections, hinge means carried by the extreme ends of said back section for hingedly connecting the side sections being adapted to be selectively swung toward and away from each other and normally lying in an operative position to converge toward their outer ends and providing a restricted entrance opening for the goal, independent anchoring means engaging the hinge means at each end of the back section and the inner ends of the side sections for firmly anchoring the back section and the inner ends of the side sections upon the ground, and independent anchoring means engaging the outer end of each side section for holding the ends of the side sections in selected spaced relation. I

2. As a new article of manufacture, a goal comprising a straight back section, a pair of side sections, hinge means carried by the extreme ends of said back section for hingedly connecting the side sections being adapted to be selectively swung toward and away from each other and normally lying in an operative position to converge toward their outer ends and providing a restricted entrance opening for the goal, independent anchoring means engaging the hinge means at each end ofthe back section and the inner ends of the side sections for firmly anchoring the back section and the inner ends of the side sections upon the ground, independent anchoring means engaging the outer end of each side section for holding the ends of the side sections in selected spaced relation, the end sections being foldable flat upon the back section whereby the end sections may snugly lie against the back section when folded, and said anchoring means having enlarged heads overhanging the hinge means for preventing upward movement of the sections with respect to the anchoring means.

3'. As a new article of manufacture, a goal comprising a straight back section, a pair of side sections, hinge means carried by the extreme ends of said back section for hingedly connecting the side sections being adapted to be selectively swung toward and away from each other and normally lying in an operative position to converge toward their outer ends and providing a restricted entrance opening for the goal, independent anchoring means constituting removable pintles for said hinge means at each end of the back section and the inner ends of the side sections for firmly anchoring the back section and the inner ends of the side sections upon the ground, and independent anchoring means engaging the outer end of each side section for holding the ends of the side sections in selected spaced relation.

4. A game apparatus of the class described comprising a straight back section, a plurality of side sections, a hinge section secured to each end of said back section, hinge sections secured to the inner ends of said side sections, some of said side sections extending in one direction with respect to the base section, and other of said side sections extending in the opposite direction, anchoring pins passing through said hinge sections and constituting a pintle therefor for hingedly connecting the back and side sections and holding the inner ends of said side sections firmly anchored upon the ground, anchoring means engaging the outer ends of said side sections for anchoring the outer ends of said side sections in selected spaced relation and holding the outer ends of said side sections firmly anchored upon the ground, the hinge sections carried by the back section being ofiset laterally in opposite directions whereby the side sections may be folded flat against the back section when the goal is in a knockdown position.

' CECIL C. LUTES. 

